Mini Arts Festival

A collaboration between Music and Visual Arts by the students from Kinder – Grade 2.

At Grammar, we see the Arts as an essential part of a child’s education. Music and visual art give students the chance to explore, be creative and express who they are. Along the way, they develop essential skills and techniques, but also imagination, confidence and the ability to share their own ideas in unique ways.

In August, the Mini Arts Pop-Up: Paths, Palettes and Possibilities was a joyful celebration of the process of creativity and learning for our Kinder to Grade 2 students.

The afternoon began with students proudly singing their class compositions, followed by lively performances on claves, bucket drums, and xylophones. The children showcased their growing skills in beat, rhythm and pitch, and the confidence that comes from making music together. Our final musical item, 'Colour My World', brought students and families together in a colourful, uplifting finale.

After the performances, families explored the Art House and Hall to see work curated and created by students, including teacher research and documentation, student artwork for sale, and a harvest market created by students with their own produce. The children shared their inquiries into colour, expression and storytelling, showing how art can spark emotion and conversation. Paintings, illustrations and mixed media pieces revealed each child’s individuality, while curating their work gave students the chance to present their learning with pride. The Mini Arts Pop-Up is a reminder that even our youngest learners are capable of creating meaningful, impactful and thoughtful work.

As PYP arts educators, we know children make sense of the world through play, exploration and storytelling. The Mini Arts Pop-Up, based on the question “What is creativity?”, captured that journey from the exploratory beginnings of Kinder through to more refined creative choices in Grade 2. It also built on previous inquiries, including “What is an artist?” (2023) and “What is wellbeing?” (2024). The event gave students the chance to share their inquiries, making learning visible to families, peers and the wider community.

Importantly, the Mini Arts Pop-Up also showed how the Arts nurture the whole child. For our youngest learners, singing, drawing, creating and moving aren’t just ‘extras’—they are powerful ways of thinking, sharing knowledge and communicating.

Arts students at Grammar understand creativity as a joyful, imaginative, and personal journey. Their language shows they are developing a healthy artistic mindset, open to exploration, mistakes, and expression. With thoughtful scaffolding, these early beliefs can evolve into confident and creative thinking that supports their growth as expressive, reflective learners in the PYP and beyond. – Natalie and Martine

By engaging deeply with the Arts, our young learners are not only developing skills for artistic expression but also qualities such as curiosity, reflection and creativity that will serve them as lifelong learners. The Mini Arts Pop-Up was a chance for our community to see how the Arts empower children to tell their stories, share their ideas and express who they are.

Mrs Martine Cook, Junior Campus Art Teacher and Ms Natalie Hillier, Junior Campus Music Teacher